A Wave from Google

With a simple browser application, Google seeks to revolutionize communication over the Internet. This is to be achieved using Open Source interfaces.

Google introduced the Wave at its own developer preview release at Google I/O in San Francisco. The new product features intensive new technology from HTML 5 Draft. The preview release event dealt with product software, mail functions, chat, blog, Wiki, and collective document management which covered the scope of the preview version for developers. As customary with Google, the circle of those involved should soon be expanded to an alpha or beta version. The complete product will be placed under an Open Source license. The first interfaces and documentation have already been published.

Google Wave is somewhat complex in nature: thanks to HTML 5, the application functions entirely over browsers. The mail client commands intelligent messaging, where answers can be typed directly into existing messages and eliminates the need to open new mail windows. If an additional addressee is added to the thread of communication, this new participant automatically receives the complete mail conversation up to this point and can more easily retrace the course of this exchange. Waves can be controlled by not only one sender, but many. Waves may also be edited by many participants. The same user interface may also be used as a chat program where all users online at the given point in time can see what their contacts are typing at the time.

In addition to these basic functions, mail threads can also be published as blog entries complete with comments while the entire exchange follows in real-time. Also, Google Wave enables many users to work on one document (e.g., a photo collection could be collectively tagged). To round out the application with other extensions, Google hopes for cooperation from countless Open Source developments to contribute with their innovation and know-how.

Among other features central to the system includes an automatic translation service for about 40 languages. Those interested, may check out a Google Wave presentation from May 28th. (1 hour and 20 minutes in length, the extensions are discussed at about :45.)

The Californian Software company Appjet has been added to Google’s Wave team. Appjet’s collaborative Web editor Etherpad was initially supposed to be scrapped, but is now planned for Open Source release.